Treasure hunt for rare orchid discovers thriving new cluster
Conservationists are thrilled by the discovery of a new location of the critically endangered Bonville leafless orchid, which was previously known to exist at only one place in Australia.
A botany enthusiast by the name of Nick Lambert has discovered a second cluster of the critically endangered Bonville leafless orchid, a species previously thought to exist only at one location in Australia. The new site was found near Boambee, approximately 5 kilometres away from the original location in the NSW Mid North Coast region.
The orchid, scientifically named Danhatchia copelandii in honor of botanist Lachlan Copeland, is a rare and elusive species that blooms for a mere week or two each year. It thrives under the canopy of subtropical rainforests in northern New South Wales, blending seamlessly with the forest floor and lacking leaves, hence unable to photosynthesize. Its survival depends on a symbiotic relationship with a fungus beneath the soil.
Lambert, after locating the first cluster, set out to find more of the cryptic orchid. His discovery, made on October 22, adds significantly to the known population. Previously, only six to seven plants were recorded at the original site at Bonville by Copeland, while this spring, Lambert and Copeland found over 60 plants altogether.
The new site will be incorporated into the protected Great Koala National Park, a development that provides a potential safety net for the species' survival. The Bonville leafless orchid, one of the few leafless orchid species reliant on nutrients from an underground fungus, poses challenges for cultivation outside its natural habitat due to the unique growing conditions. Its protection is crucial not only for the orchid but for the wider biodiversity in the area.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
